We made it through September! Welcome, October.
Grade 8 Language Arts students are beginning to negotiate a wrapup to our exploration of Bud, Not Buddy. We have greatly enjoyed listening and discussing this fiction together.
Grade 9 Language Arts students have been working on their Leadership essays or narratives. On Monday students are being given class time to seek and incorporate feedback. This is the final work period; all work is due by Thursday, October 5th.
Grade 9 Social Studies students completed a source-based Chapter 1 test. We will take a look at the results together early next week. We have begun our exploration of the YCJA using a case study of Steven Truscott as a hook. The Fifth Estate report can be viewed here. Students are being tasked with this written response on Monday.
Yearbook welcomes our Lifetouch contact for a special guest presentation on Tuesday.
Leadership students are planning Hat Day and a Halloween Event. Stay tuned!
Friday 29 September 2017
Tuesday 26 September 2017
Friday 22 September 2017
End of Week 3 and Reminders about Week 4
Thanks to all the students who brought their families for a visit on Thursday night. If you were unable to attend, please feel free to send me an e-mail at lestaffordATcbe.ab.ca and I will give you a call.
In Grade 8 Language Arts students have been refining their Garden Metaphor assignments. We will have one final work period in the library early next week (Monday or Tuesday) and then all work (visual and expository writing) should be submitted no later than Friday, September 29. We continue to enjoy the audiobook of Bud, Not Buddy and are looking forward to the upcoming action.
In Grade 9 Language Arts, we continue to discuss an excerpt from Animal Farm each day. Students are each becoming an expert in one challenging word from the novel and will teach their word to the class beginning on Monday. Student teachings must include tips on how to spell/pronounce the word, a sentence that correctly uses the word and a visual or graphic that represents the word. Presentations are to be brief - 30 to 45 seconds.
Grade 9 Language Arts students also completed their first writing task and submitted it late last week. Students will receive this work back with comments on Monday and we will discuss some common goals with respect to capitalization, titling and citing sources - then look ahead to our first essay assignment of the year:
Leadership Essay or Narrative
Essay/Narrative Scoring Guide from Alberta Ed
Students will brainstorm, plan and draft in the classroom on Tuesday and have access to computers on Wednesday and Thursday to type their essays. Essays should be printed and handed in no later than Monday, October 2nd.
Social Studies 9 students began the final topic of Chapter 1 - lobbyists by viewing and discussing this TEDTalk on Lobbying. We will take a look at what our textbook says on lobbying as well as the role of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and its significance in Canadian politics and then begin reviewing for our Chapter 1 test which is scheduled for Thursday, September 28th. Topics to be reviewed include:
In Grade 8 Language Arts students have been refining their Garden Metaphor assignments. We will have one final work period in the library early next week (Monday or Tuesday) and then all work (visual and expository writing) should be submitted no later than Friday, September 29. We continue to enjoy the audiobook of Bud, Not Buddy and are looking forward to the upcoming action.
In Grade 9 Language Arts, we continue to discuss an excerpt from Animal Farm each day. Students are each becoming an expert in one challenging word from the novel and will teach their word to the class beginning on Monday. Student teachings must include tips on how to spell/pronounce the word, a sentence that correctly uses the word and a visual or graphic that represents the word. Presentations are to be brief - 30 to 45 seconds.
Grade 9 Language Arts students also completed their first writing task and submitted it late last week. Students will receive this work back with comments on Monday and we will discuss some common goals with respect to capitalization, titling and citing sources - then look ahead to our first essay assignment of the year:
Leadership Essay or Narrative
Essay/Narrative Scoring Guide from Alberta Ed
Students will brainstorm, plan and draft in the classroom on Tuesday and have access to computers on Wednesday and Thursday to type their essays. Essays should be printed and handed in no later than Monday, October 2nd.
Social Studies 9 students began the final topic of Chapter 1 - lobbyists by viewing and discussing this TEDTalk on Lobbying. We will take a look at what our textbook says on lobbying as well as the role of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and its significance in Canadian politics and then begin reviewing for our Chapter 1 test which is scheduled for Thursday, September 28th. Topics to be reviewed include:
- Royal assent
- Governor General's role
- The 3 Branches of Government and their respective resposibilities
- Majority/minority government
- Parliamentary Press Gallery/role of the media in politics
- Voter turnout
- Lobbyists/lobby groups
Leadership 9 students are challenged to prepare for our first spirit day and the Halloween Dance as we wrap up Terry Fox fundraising.
Yearbook 9 students continue to develop and drive student-interest projects such as a baby picture collage and best friends photo day (photobooth to be hosted at the Halloween Dance).
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Tuesday 19 September 2017
Week 3 Update
A short week this week with Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday evening (6:30-8pm) and professional development for staff on Friday (no classes for students).
Language Arts 9 students continue to explore Animal Farm and have been assigned their first formal writing task of the year. We brainstormed ideas on Monday and accessed computers on Tuesday to complete this work. Students were invited to choose a novel to sign out for independent reading purposes as we will soon complete Animal Farm. Students are welcome to bring a novel from home instead; they should have this with them in class each day beginning Monday. It should be a novel (fiction) that the student has not read before.
Social Studies 9 students have been studying the 3 Branches of Federal Government, and the legislative process. We have been reorganizing the information found on pg 22 for a visual assignment and organizing ourselves in roleplay/skits to explore the information on pg. 40-41. Textbook - Ch 1 is linked HERE. Students will be quizzed on the information covered to date on Wednesday.
In Language Arts 8, we are finishing up our visual garden metaphors as we listen to the audiobook Bud, Not Buddy. Many creative ideas were explored for this project and I am excited to display this work. Students will access computers for the written component of this assignment on Wednesday and Thursday and should hand in all work by the end of class Thursday.
Yearbook students have begun a plan for the first 48 pages of our 2016-2017 yearbook and photographed the Terry Fox Run. Displays throughout the school have been updated.
Leadership students are finalizing Terry Fox efforts and some had opportunity to work with Grade 5 students as mentors for a special project. Our first Healthy Hunger lunch is September 29 - all orders due by Friday, September 22.
Thursday 14 September 2017
More from Week 2
In Language Arts 8, we have been exploring the novel Bud, Not Buddy through audiobook and reflective discussion, and working on our personal Garden Metaphors.
In Language Arts 9, we have been connecting the idea of allegory and the theme of leadership to our study of Animal Farm. Students submitted a brief reflection (written assignment) following Chapter 3.
In Social Studies 9 we have role played the concepts of minority, majority and coalition government and the Chapter 1 concepts found here: Ch 1- Branches.
Our Lifetouch representative was by for a visit and will be back to run a workshop with Yearbook 9 students on October 3.
In Leadership 9, students have planned a variety of activities including fundraising for Terry Fox as well as planning our first Healthy Hunger event (coordinating takeout orders from Little Caeser's) for Sept 29.
Looking forward to having lots of visitors on September 21st for Meet the Teacher Night!
In Language Arts 9, we have been connecting the idea of allegory and the theme of leadership to our study of Animal Farm. Students submitted a brief reflection (written assignment) following Chapter 3.
In Social Studies 9 we have role played the concepts of minority, majority and coalition government and the Chapter 1 concepts found here: Ch 1- Branches.
Our Lifetouch representative was by for a visit and will be back to run a workshop with Yearbook 9 students on October 3.
In Leadership 9, students have planned a variety of activities including fundraising for Terry Fox as well as planning our first Healthy Hunger event (coordinating takeout orders from Little Caeser's) for Sept 29.
Looking forward to having lots of visitors on September 21st for Meet the Teacher Night!
Monday 11 September 2017
Welcome to Week 2, September 11-15
Welcome back to another week at Woodman!
In Social Studies, Grade 9s began this week by previewing our textbook and beginning to discuss how responsibility is delegated and managed in Canada's federal government. Relevant textbook pages can be accessed here. We also looked at what debate and challenge occurs during Question Period.
Grade 8s continued to consider the novel Bud, Not Buddy and were assigned the Garden Metaphor on Monday. We will have some time in the Learning Commons to access computers as students wish this week. Stay tuned for a due date for this assignment.
In Language Arts 9, we stopped to consider the first three chapters of Animal Farm include plot, devices such as irony and some of the sophisticated vocabulary. Our audiobook of Animal Farm is free to access online: Animal Farm Audiobook. We also continued to discuss the allegorical significance of Animal Farm and viewed a brief YouTube video in support.
Leadership 9 continues to plan Terry Fox fundraisers and Activities as well as Meet the Teacher night.
Yearbook 9 students will take some time this week to look at historical yearbooks and begin to formulate a vision and theme for the 2017-2018 project.
Friday 8 September 2017
End of Week 1
It was a pleasure to meet you this week and to begin to discuss our goals for this year. Parents and families, I hope students took an opportunity to review course outlines with you this week! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns (lestaffordATcbe.ab.ca).
In Social Studies 9, we began to take a look at the different levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal). If you missed the cheesy video or want to share it, it can be found here:
Who Does What?
As we begin our student of Federal Leadership in Canada, we are going to pause and compare this system to our municipal election which occurs October 16, 2017. We have an opportunity through CIVIX to host a mock election where students can experience the voting process. To that end, our current event for this week has been to take a look at our mayoral candidates and their platforms.
Students can review this content here:
Mayoral Candidates 2017
In Language Arts 9, we have begun our study of Animal Farm and are working together to understand the concept of allegory.
In Language Arts 8, we have begun our study of Bud, Not Buddy and are working together to understand the concept of metaphor.
Yearbook students began to divide up into teams to plan displays and a vision for this year's work. Our Lifetouch rep will be out to visit next week and we will begin to familiarize ourselves with the software.
Leadership students planned their first fundraiser for Terry Fox (Timbits for Terry!) and have begun to look ahead to the Terry Fox Run as well as our Meet the Teacher Night which is Thursday, September 21st from 6:30pm-8pm.
Looking forward to next week.
In Social Studies 9, we began to take a look at the different levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal). If you missed the cheesy video or want to share it, it can be found here:
Who Does What?
As we begin our student of Federal Leadership in Canada, we are going to pause and compare this system to our municipal election which occurs October 16, 2017. We have an opportunity through CIVIX to host a mock election where students can experience the voting process. To that end, our current event for this week has been to take a look at our mayoral candidates and their platforms.
Students can review this content here:
Mayoral Candidates 2017
In Language Arts 9, we have begun our study of Animal Farm and are working together to understand the concept of allegory.
In Language Arts 8, we have begun our study of Bud, Not Buddy and are working together to understand the concept of metaphor.
Yearbook students began to divide up into teams to plan displays and a vision for this year's work. Our Lifetouch rep will be out to visit next week and we will begin to familiarize ourselves with the software.
Leadership students planned their first fundraiser for Terry Fox (Timbits for Terry!) and have begun to look ahead to the Terry Fox Run as well as our Meet the Teacher Night which is Thursday, September 21st from 6:30pm-8pm.
Looking forward to next week.
Wednesday 6 September 2017
Setting Norms and Goals
Today Social Studies 9 and Language Arts 8 we worked on setting forth common expectations about how we represent ourselves, treat each other and respect this space. Student input will be collated and further discussed as we build our learning community.
Students also received copies of course outlines to review with a parent or guardian and practiced accessing this blog.
Leadership 9 also met for the first time and began to discuss exciting ideas for the year. Stay tuned for more information!
Students also received copies of course outlines to review with a parent or guardian and practiced accessing this blog.
Leadership 9 also met for the first time and began to discuss exciting ideas for the year. Stay tuned for more information!
Tuesday 5 September 2017
Welcome to Woodman
I am so excited to welcome you all to Woodman, whether you are returning or new to the building. This year I work primarily with Grade 9s for Language Arts 9, Social Studies 9, Leadership 9 and Yearbook 9. I also have one Grade 8 Language Arts class.
Here are some helpful links to course outlines:
Language Arts 9
Social Studies 9
Language Arts 8
Leadership 9
Yearbook 9
Here's to a wonderful year together!
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